The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-04-19
PRESERVING LINEN.
Valuable Suggestions on . Topic OF Greas
Domestic Importance.

Being q vegetable product linen
never loses its vegetable fiber. The
treatment necessary to its perfection
acts upon but does not change its
nature, and consequently it requires
care in its handling. In regulating
household affairs, it is best to place the
first laundering of new linen before or
after the white months" as the
season of snow is often called by old
housewives whose linen treasures en-
title them TO a respectful hearing on
the subject, even though it may be
urged that, previous TO its weaving,
the flax has undergone much severer
treatment than mere freezing. To
allow linen to become frozen stiff and
then beaten abont by the wind, finally
dragged from the line and allowed to
stand with the moisture in il that
should have evaporated in drying, is
the surest way to deteriorate from its
color and texture. 1t does not hurt it
to freeze in still air-indeed, freezing
helps To keep it white; but it should be
dried and sprinkled before it is ironed.
Linen that has been in disuse a long
time should be brought out during the
poisoning of the trees and used
enough to provide an excuse for hang
ing it out or spreading it upon the
clover field. No perfume ever COM
pounded is so efficaciOus in imparting
the air of sweetness and purity which
one so prizes to the piece of damask
that is to touch the lips. To insure
Wilderness but little soap should be
used in laundering. Hard water may
be sOftened with little bOrax, the
cleansing powers of which can not be
too highly praised. Thorough rinsing
in plenty of clean water in which a
little indigo may be diluted is requisite
before the article is hung to dry.
For the linen that has had its texture
thinned by wear little thoroughly
boiled, smooth starch may be strained
into the rinsing water, with good
effect. When quite dry it should be
sprinkled evenly, rolled smoothly and
eOmpactly and allowed TO remain at
least two hours before being ironed.
Then, TO produce the luster which is
characteristic of new linen, il should be
ironed until apparently no dampness
remains in it, and, finally, it should be
left upon flat surface until actually as
dry as If it had never been wet Linen
retains dampneSs longer than cotton,
ing, especially if it be bed linen.
To prevent table cloths from having
their folds so accumulated that they rise
up in ridges upon the table when the
cloth is spread, avoid placing them
after ironing upon q clothes-fsame
having thick bars. Instead, they should
be folded smoothly and laid in tlr- sun
light or near Il register. IL it is neces-
sary to air them upon bars, press their
folds with a hot iron before putting
them away.
1t is pity that rents should ever
come in linen, but rs even with the ut
most care time brings them. it is inn
pOrtant to know what to do for their
repair. To darn any material thread
of its own texture is desirable. This is
easily obtained by saving linen rayel-
ings, and after the edges of the rent
or worn places are smOOthed out
with a warm iron and tackled upon
piece of similar goods with long
stitches, a needle threaded with
linen Rawlings may be used to
bring them together, so that the break
Is scarcely discernible. A darning
stitch is usually the most practicable
for plain linen, but when a decided fig-
ure or flower offers n background any
/ variation of stitch that will facilitate
the purpose may he employed. The
darning of linen was an accomplish
ment taught in this way in the schools
where the teachings SavOred least of
the world and yet prepared women for
the duties which they most surely might
expect to find awaiting them in it.
Towels for kitchen and pantry use
are made of plain and checked linen,
their distinct purpose often being indi-
Gated by this difference. Enough and
yet not too many towels for these de-
partments constitute n good motto for
those having charge of them. 1t is
easy to make a small number suffice,
no matter how many may be in reserve.
but it is not always so easy to see that a
large number is kept in good order.
No piece of linen, whatever its use.
should be allowed to remain unlaun-
dered long after being soiled, and of
no variety of household linens is this
more true than of kitchen and pantry
towels For the marking of glass and
china towels small initial letters may
be bought by the gross for trifing
sum, or may be worked with marking
rotton.-DeiineGtOr.